Summary
In this lesson, students will discover the attributes of three systems of government by discussing advantages and disadvantages of each type and then sorting characteristics of each type. Students will reflect on potential issues faced by citizens living under each type of system and will summarize their learning by giving each system a grade with their reasoning.
Essential Question(s)
How do governments distribute power?
Snapshot
Engage
Students reflect on the role of government in people’s lives.
Explore
Students analyze advantages and disadvantages of different governmental systems.
Explain
Students sort characteristics of unitary, confederal, and federal governments.
Extend
Students discuss potential problems that can arise from different governmental systems.
Evaluate
Students grade unitary, confederal, and federal governments and provide reasoning for the grades.
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
Systems T-Chart handout (attached; one page per group; make sure each type of system is analyzed by at least one group)
Systems Card Sort handout (attached; one per group; optional)
Chat Stations Posters (attached; three posters per class; can be duplicated if necessary)
Systems of Government Report Card handout (attached; one per student)
Scissors (one per group; optional)
Pens or pencils
Student devices with Internet access
Engage
10 Minute(s)
Use the attached Lesson Slides to guide the lesson. Review the essential question on slide 3 and the lesson objectives on slide 4 to the extent necessary.
Move to slide 5, and read the question to students: What is the role of government in people’s lives? Using the Think-Pair-Share strategy, allow time for students to think of a response before pairing up with a partner and sharing their thoughts.
Ask for several volunteers to share what they have talked about with their partner. Have a short class discussion about the ways in which the government is involved in citizens’ lives.
Explore
15 Minute(s)
Place students into groups of three to four. As you pass out the attached Systems T-Chart handout to students, make sure that each group receives only one of the three pages and that there will be at least one group analyzing each of the governmental systems. Move to slide 6, and tell students to work in their groups to read over the country information. After they read about the country, have students use the T-Chart strategy to work as a group to write down the advantages and disadvantages the citizens experience from the system of government utilized by the described country.
Ask each group to share something that they have written about their country, until all groups have shared. As students share, take some notes on the whiteboard by creating a heading for each of the three countries and adding information underneath. After students have shared, tell students that each country represents a unique system of government that is either unitary, confederal, and federal. Explain to students that the countries they read about each have a system of government that divides power in different ways. The countries described have the following system:
Country A - Unitary
Country B - Federal
Country C - Confederal
Explain
15 Minute(s)
Pass out the attached Systems Card Sort handout to each group. Have students cut out the cards. Display slide 7, and review the formal definitions of unitary, confederal, and federal systems of government with students. Have students sort the cards into the appropriate government system.
Circulate and monitor as students complete the Card Sort, answering questions and clarifying the concept as needed. The image below displays the card sort solution:
Extend
15 Minute(s)
Display slide 8, and tell students they are going to use the Chat Stations strategy to rotate to each poster, read the prompt, and discuss the questions on the poster. Have students choose a poster to begin with, and start the timer on slide 8. When time stops after three minutes, have students move to the next poster and repeat the process until they have visited all the posters. Afterward, tell students to return their seats. Ask students to share what they talked about at each poster, and have a class discussion about the issues that can arise from the different governmental systems.
Evaluate
20 Minute(s)
Pass out the attached Systems of Government Report Card handout to each student. Move to slide 9, and have students individually give each of the three systems of government a grade with their reasoning. Collect the handouts to review and check for student understanding of the lesson content.
Resources
K20 Center. (n.d.). Card sort. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/147
K20 Center. (n.d.). Chat stations. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/944
K20 Center. (n.d.). Desmos classroom. Tech tools. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/tech-tool/1081
K20 Center. (2021, September 21). K20 Center 3 minute timer [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iISP02KPau0
K20 Center. (n.d.). T-chart. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/86
K20 Center. (n.d.). Think-pair-share. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/139
Rahhal, R. (n.d.). A seat at the table card sort. Desmos Classroom. https://teacher.desmos.com/activitybuilder/custom/63e11571747f35d24ac00776